Report: Bruins closing in on deals with Campbell, Kelly

On Saturday afternoon, TSN’s Bob McKenzie
reported that the Bruins are close to signing unrestricted free
agent centers Greg Campbell and Chris
Kelly to new multi-year deals.

Here’s what McKenzie had to say on Twitter.

“They are not done yet, but Chris Kelly and Gregory
Campbell are closing in on new multi-year deals with BOS,”
said McKenzie. “Both are UFA on July 1.”

McKenzie followed that up by reiterating his confidence the
deals would get done.

“Point is, unless there is some unexpected last-minute
hitch in final stages of negotiations, both will be back in BOS
next season.”

Many have speculated since the Bruins’ season concluded on
April 25 that Kelly would command too much coin after a career year
in 2011-12.

The 31-year-old pivot notched a career-best 20 goals and added
19 assists, while ranking third in the NHL at plus-33.

Drafted 94th overall by the Senators in 1999, Kelly
has 97-123-220 totals in 569 career NHL games. His most recent
contract ran from 2008-12 and carried a cap hit of $2.12
million.

Campbell, 28, has been an integral part of the success of
Boston’s fourth line during his two years with the club, and
has been a key contributor on the penalty kill. After a 13-goal,
29-point season in 2010-11, he had 8-8-16 total in 78 contests for
the B’s in 2011-12.

Acquired in the 2010 trade that sent Dennis
Wideman to Florida and brought both he and Nathan
Horton to Boston, Campbell has 50-80-130 totals in 521
career games.

An RFA at the time of his arrival in Boston, Campbell’s
most recent contract was a two-year deal with a $1.1 million cap
hit.